Created: Thu, 19 Jul 2007 08:53:18

BOB WEEKS

Much discussion yesterday about Gary Player’s allegations that as many as 10 professional golfers are using some sort of enhancing drugs. During his presser, Player said he knows for a fact that there is at least one golfer out there who is using something.

This is the first time anyone has come out publicly and stated that there are drugs being used and leave it to Player to be the one. This is a guy who was acknowledged as just about the fittest guy in golf during his era. In fact, he’s still in tremendous shape. Jeff Handler, Mike Weir’s trainer, told me that one day when he and Mike were working out in the PGA Tour fitness trailer, Player was on a mat doing crunches. Player asked Handler to put a 50-pound plate on his stomach, which he did reluctantly, but the old man handled it, continuing to do crunches.

However, I digress.

In the press conference, it’s interesting to note that Player seemed to be waiting for a question on steroids and was ready to unleash his allegations. When the first question was asked about steroid use, Player called it “a wonderful question.”

Here’s how it played out:

Q. When the Tour tests for steroids, would it surprise you to find there are players who are using them?
GARY PLAYER: No, not surprise me because I know, I know that there are golfers, some of them are doing -- whether it's HGH, whether it's creatine or whether it's steroids, I know for a fact that some golfers are doing it.
And the greatest thing that The R&A, the USGA and the PGA can do is have tests at random. It's absolutely essential that we do that. We're dreaming if we think it's not going to come into golf.
You look at these rugby teams today, and I followed rugby all my life, it's so obvious what is happening. It would be interesting, they asked me last night, what percentage of athletes, men and women in the world are using one of those three enhancements. Let's put the word as enhancement. And I said I think 40 percent of athletes in the world.
I've changed my mind overnight; I think it's almost 50 to 60 percent of athletes in the world today. I'm not saying golfers, I'm saying just across the board with all sports.Q. What do you think the number is in golf?
GARY PLAYER: Well, I'd be guessing. I'd be guessing. But I think it would be -- you want me to take a guess?Q. A guess.
GARY PLAYER: I would say in the World Tour today, golfers around the world playing Tour, I would say there's ten guys taking something. I might be way out. Definitely not going to be lower, but might be a hell of a lot more.
And I'm delighted to see that they're going to start having tests at random, if that's what they officially have decided.Q. How do you know for a fact that there are people using enhancements, as you say?
GARY PLAYER: Because one guy told me. One guy told me and I took an oath prior to him telling me, and he told me and I won't tell you where, but he told me what he did and I could see this massive change in him and then -- and somebody else told me something that I also promised I wouldn't tell that verified others had done it.

Now Player has been known to . . .how shall I say this . . . exaggerate on occasion. I remember a press conference at The Masters when he predicted there would be giant men coming into golf, men who look like basketball players, who would easily drive the first green at Augusta National. Hmmmm.

And as wild as his latest comments may seem, I think it’s pretty naïve to believe that some players aren’t trying to get an edge. They do it in baseball, they do it in hockey, they do it in football and we’re going to believe they aren’t doing it in golf? With millions of dollars at stake?

Many of the players I’ve talked to over the years suggest that a big, weight-lifter type body isn’t beneficial to the golf swing so there’s no real need to bulk up through steroids. But you only have to look at the No. 1 player in the game – and I’m NOT for a minute suggesting Tiger is on anything – to realize that physical strength can be beneficial. I think it would be absolutely nuts not to think that Player’s comments don’t have some truth to them.

If nothing else, this would, you’d think, force Tim Finchem’s hand into enacting a drug policy asap. Finchem has taken the ostrich-in-the-sand approach saying the PGA Tour doesn’t need a drug policy because his players are all lily white pure (despite the fact the Euro Tour and the LPGA Tour both have policies in place next year). If so, then prove it Mr. Finchem. Maybe it is a case of guilty until proven innocent, but Player has just pulled back the curtain on what was a pretty little scene. Time to deal with it in some way other than just lip service.

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Comments

FOREPosted: 2007-07-20 12:39:19 So Ken, are you going to let us in on your plans for the South Pole Open? Can the penguins break 80? 90? Just curious.

Alberta GolferPosted: 2007-07-20 06:14:03

DJ no it is not really bad to have one Amateur golfer in the Canadian Open. But, make it one who deserves it. Victor C was not on the international teams. Why not Kris Wasylowich who was co-medalist at last years Amateur led Alberta to the Willington Cup, has shot a 57 and then backed it up with a 59 Also won the Canadian Mid Am.. Finished 10 under par at a Can Tour Event recently or how about Mark Leon who was also Co-medalist at last years amateur ( don't know if he is still an amateur though ). What about Tod Halpren who finished second to Richard Scott in the Amateur last year, captained U of Vic to 3 College titles, shot a 66 at the NAIA men's golf championship in the US, also played on the Alberta tem in the Morse Cup at the Pacific Coast Am. Teamed with Wasylowich to represented Canada in the Acer Cup in Taipei.

Oh yeah I guess the Halpren and Wasylowich did not get the exemption because they are not from Ontario. By the way what has Victor C done please enlighten me.

DJPosted: 2007-07-20 05:50:14 Is it really a bad thing to have at least one Canadian amateur golfer in the field? If there wasn't then people would blame the RCGA for that too. Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Alberta GolferPosted: 2007-07-20 04:51:39 Sidebar: I wonder if Bill Paul looked at the Can Tour Int'l matches. Do you think he noticed any of the names he passed up for an exemption in favour of Victor C. Just a thought. Some of the Can Tour guys might be a little more deserving of an exemption.

Alberta GolferPosted: 2007-07-20 04:46:17

I think you guys are being too hard on DLIII. The RCGA should offer him a ride to the Canadian Open. Tie him to the wing.

As for Players statement . Players in other sports are using performance enhancing drugs it would not suprise me that golfers are using performance enhancers inclusing Beta blockers to calm the heart rate.

Nick (weirno1)Posted: 2007-07-20 01:55:25

I'm with you.

Trunk SlammerPosted: 2007-07-20 00:41:21 Who really cares if DLIII plays or not

When he tries to get on the charter, the RCGA should get him to wait on the tarmac for a while, "Davis, we'll see if a spot opens up, right now, I'd say its an official maybe!!!"

MarkPosted: 2007-07-19 22:32:22 One comment on the Open. Tsn sucks.

Once again, they choose not to pick up the unaltered BBC feed, but instead pick up the TNT feed which decides to show 2 shots of golf every hour, then replay Tigers round. Then decide to advertise their own shows with stupid rollovers. And oh yeah, Im never buying a Lexus.